Systems and methods wherein a lottery number combination is associated with a limited number of occurrences

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are provided to facilitate lottery ticket transactions. A request to purchase a lottery ticket is received, the lottery ticket being associated with a lottery number combination, such as a limited number of lottery tickets or a limited number of players. An indication that the lottery number combination is to be associated with a limited number of occurrences is also received. For example, an indication that the lottery number combination is to be associated with only a single lottery ticket may be received. A price associated with the lottery ticket is determined based on the received indication. According to one embodiment the price is increased by a predetermined amount based on the received indication.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 60/200,838 entitled “Methods and Apparatus forDetermining a Lottery Ticket Price Based on a Lottery Ticket Parameter”and filed May 1, 2000. The entire content of this application isincorporated herein by reference.

The present application is related to: U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/525,875 entitled “System and Method For Applying Lottery Multipliers”and filed Mar. 14, 2000; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/052,295entitled “Methods and Apparatus Wherein a Lottery Entry is Entered IntoLottery Drawings Until the Lottery Entry is Identified as a Winner” andfiled Mar. 31, 1998; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/107,971entitled “Method and Apparatus for Facilitating the Play of FractionalLottery Tickets Utilizing Point-Of-Sale Terminals” and filed Jun. 30,1998; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/205,276 filedMay 18 ,2000. The entire contents of these applications are incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD

The present invention relates to lotteries. In particular, the presentinvention relates to systems and methods wherein a lottery numbercombination is associated with a limited number of occurrences, such asa limited number of lottery tickets or a limited number of players.

BACKGROUND

Players enjoy playing lottery games in part because of the large prizesthat can be won. In particular, players are attracted to the possibilityof winning, and spending, such large prizes. This can be seen, forexample, by the increased number of players who purchase lottery ticketsas the size of a lottery prize increases. In some cases, a lottery prizereaches hundreds of millions of dollars and players spend a considerableamount of money and time purchasing lottery tickets. Moreover, evenpeople who do not typically purchase lottery tickets are tempted to doso when a lottery prize grows large enough. This behavior is oftenreinforced by stories, such as news reports, about players who have wonsuch large lottery prize.

A problem with typical lottery games, however, is that if two or moreplayers are both associated with a particular winning lottery numbercombination, the players are required share the lottery prize. Forexample in a “6/49” lottery game, there are approximate fourteen millionpotential lottery number combinations. If twenty million people purchaselottery tickets for such a game, it is more likely than not that twopeople will be required to share the lottery prize.

This risk increases as the size of the lottery prize, and thus thenumber of lottery tickets that are purchased, increases That is, as thenumber of lottery tickets that are purchased increases it becomes morelikely that one or more other players will be associated with the samelottery number combination. Thus, the largest lottery prizes are oftendivided among two or more winning players, reducing the incentive peoplehave to play the lottery game in the first place. Therefore, a lotterygame provider may be able to increase lottery ticket sales, and profits,if players who win could reduce the risk of, or completely avoid, havingto share a lottery prize.

Note that, with respect to the cost of a lottery prize, a lottery gameprovider may not be concerned with whether the prize is won by a singleplayer or is shared by a number of players. That is, the amount of thelottery prize the lottery provider pays out is the same in both cases.In some cases, a lottery game provider may prefer that a single playerwin a lottery prize because of the amount and type of publicitygenerated by such a result.

Another way to view the above problem is to consider the expected valueof a lottery ticket. A first lottery ticket associated with a lotterynumber combination that is not associated with any other lottery tickethas a higher expected value to a player than a second lottery ticketassociated with a lottery number combination that is also associatedwith one or more other lottery tickets. As a result, players may bewilling to pay a higher price for the first lottery ticket. Moreover,the cost of the first and second lottery tickets to the lottery gameprovider may be the same (e.g., the lottery game provider may payout thesame top prize whether or not the two lottery tickets are associatedwith the same lottery number combination). Thus, a lottery game providermay be able to increase profits if it can receive a higher price for thefirst lottery ticket. In addition, awarding large prizes to a singleplayer may result in increased interest in the lottery game, and thusmore lottery tickets may be sold further increasing profits and prizes.

As can be seen, a need exists for improved systems and methods tofacilitate lottery ticket transactions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To alleviate problems inherent in the prior art, the present inventionintroduces systems and methods for facilitating the sale of a lotteryticket (e.g., the sale of the lottery ticket to a player), where thelottery ticket is associated with a number combination.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a request to purchase alottery ticket is received. An indication that the lottery numbercombination is to be associated with a limited number of occurrences isalso received. A price associated with the lottery ticket is determinedbased on the received indication.

In another embodiment a request to purchase a lottery ticket is receivedfrom a player. An indication that the lottery number combination is tobe associated with a limited number of lottery tickets is also receivedfrom the player. A price associated with the lottery ticket isdetermined based on the received indication. The lottery numbercombination is also determined, and it is arranged for the player topurchase the lottery ticket. Payment of an amount based on thedetermined price is received from the player, and the lottery ticket isprovided to the player. At least one other lottery ticket is preventedfrom being associated with the lottery number combination. Based on thelottery number combination and a result of a lottery drawing, it isarranged for the player to receive payment of a winning amount.

In still another embodiment, a request to purchase a pari-mutuel lotteryticket is received. A price associated with the pari-mutuel lotteryticket is determined based on an expected value of the lottery ticket toa player.

Another embodiment of the present invention comprises: means forreceiving a request to purchase a lottery ticket; means for receiving anindication that the lottery number combination is to be associated witha limited number of occurrences; and means for determining a priceassociated with the lottery ticket based on the received indication.

Another embodiment comprises: means for receiving from a player arequest to purchase a lottery ticket; means for receiving from theplayer an indication that the lottery number combination is to beassociated with a limited number of lottery tickets; means fordetermining a price associated with the lottery ticket based on thereceived indication; means for determining the lottery numbercombination; means for arranging for the player to purchase the lotteryticket; means for receiving, from the player, payment of an amount basedon the determined price; means for providing the lottery ticket to theplayer; means for preventing at least one other lottery ticket frombeing associated with the lottery number combination; and means forarranging for the player to receive payment of a winning amount based onthe lottery number combination and a result of a, lottery drawing.

Still another embodiment comprises: means for receiving a request topurchase a pari-mutuel lottery ticket; and means for determining a priceassociated with the pari-mutuel lottery ticket based on an expectedvalue of the lottery ticket to a player.

With these and other advantages and features of the invention that willbecome hereinafter apparent, the nature of the invention may be moreclearly understood by reference to the following detailed description ofthe invention, the appended claims, and the several drawings attachedherein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method of facilitating lottery tickettransactions according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram overview of a lottery system according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block schematic diagram of a controller according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a tabular representation of a portion of a purchased numbercombinations database according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a tabular representation of a portion of a potential numbercombinations database according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method for selling a lottery ticketaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7A is a flow chart of a method for selecting a number combinationaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7B is a flowchart of another method for selecting a number combination according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a method for processing a request to purchasea subsequent lottery ticket according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 9 is a lottery ticket slip according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is directed to systems and methods to facilitatelottery ticket transactions. Turning now in detail to the drawings, FIG.1 is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

At 10, a request to purchase a lottery ticket is received. As usedherein, the term “lottery ticket” shall refer to any type of ticket,including an electronic representation of a ticket, used in any type oflottery game offered by a lottery game provider, such as a “pari-mutuel”drawing-type lottery game. As used herein, a pari-mutuel type gameincludes any game in which winning players may be required to share atleast one of the prizes. Note that a pari-mutuel type game may alsoinclude one or more other prizes that players would not be required toshare. Examples of pari-mutuel type games include racetrack betting andlottery games.

Lottery games include any number of variations and combinations Alottery ticket may be formed as one or more cards which are made ofpaper, cardboard, plastic, or any other suitable material and mayinclude identification and game playing information printed thereon.Alternatively, lottery tickets may be represented magnetically,optically, or electronically. For example, lottery tickets may berepresented as electronic characters or images in a memory or on a videomonitor that are generated and stored on a computer or other informationdevice. Furthermore, electronic lottery tickets may be used in a lotterygame conducted over a computer network such as the Internet. Further,lottery tickets may be embodied as magnetic stripes on cards, patternson magneto-optical media, and/or bit patterns in a smart card.

In accordance with a pari-mutuel drawing-type lottery game, playerspurchase lottery tickets which each include one or more sets of symbols,referred to herein as a “lottery number combination.” Note that alottery number combination may comprise a single number. In addition,the order of the numbers within a combination may or may not besignificant.

A lottery ticket for such a lottery game may include, for example, a setof six lottery numbers (or a “lottery number combinations”), each numberbeing selected from the numbers “1” through “49,” inclusive. Note that asingle paper lottery ticket may include several lottery numbercombinations.

In a typical drawing held by a lottery game provider, six winninglottery numbers from within the range of “1” through “49,” are randomlydetermined. A lottery player compares the six lottery numbers on his orher lottery ticket, acquired before the drawing, with the six winninglottery numbers- A lottery player with a ticket having a sufficientnumber of matching lottery numbers, as defined by the particularlottery's rules, will win a prize (typically a monetary prize) also asdefined by the lottery's rules. In a pari-mutuel lottery game, a topprize (or “jackpot”) may be awarded when a player matches all sixwinning lottery numbers. The top prize is often based at least in parton a total number of lottery tickets that have been purchased, and istypically shared when two or more players have matched all six winninglottery numbers.

For a more detailed description of how conventional lotteries operate,see “Dr. Z's 6/49 Lotto Guidebook” by Dr. William T. Ziemba et al.,1986, printed by Ronalds Printing, published by Dr. Z Investments Inc.,which is incorporated herein by reference.

According to one embodiment, a player provides a request to purchase alottery ticket to an operator of a lottery terminal at a retail store.Examples of retail stores where lottery tickets are typically purchasedinclude convenience stores, delicatessens, gasoline stations,supermarkets, and online lottery Web sites. As described above, thelottery ticket may be associated with a lottery number combination(e.g., “4, 9, 12, 24, 32, 38”).

According to one embodiment, the lottery number combination is“manually” selected by the player (e.g., based on one or morebirthdays). For example, a player may use a pencil to mark six numberson a machine-readable lottery ticket slip. According to anotherembodiment, the lottery number combination is selected by a lotterysystem (e.g., a player device, a retail store device, or a centrallottery device). For example, the lottery system may use a “quick pick”random process to select a lottery number combination for a player.

Although embodiments of the present invention are described with respectto a lottery number combination, any other lottery symbols may be usedinstead (e.g., alphanumeric characters, colors, shapes, and/orpictures).

Referring again to FIG. 1, at 12 an indication is received that theplayer's lottery number combination will only be associated with alimited number of “occurrence.” For example, the player may indicatethat his or her lottery number combination will only be associated witha single ticket (e.g., the ticket he or she is purchasing), As anotherexample, the player may indicate that the lottery number combination wigonly be associated with a single player. In this way, the player canmake sure that he or she will not be required to share a top lotteryprize with another player—because no other player will have the samelottery number combination. The player may instead indicate that thelottery number combination will be associated with, for example, amaximum of two occurrences. In this case, the player knows that if allsix winning lottery numbers are matched, he or she will receive at least50% of the top lottery prize. Instead of being associated with a limitednumber of tickets, a player may indicate that the lottery numbercombination will only be associated with a limited number of players(e.g., two players).

According to one embodiment, the player is assured that his or herlottery number combination will not be associated with another ticket(or player) prior to a lottery drawing. For example, a player may beinformed that a lottery number combination will not be associated withany other lottery tickets. According to another embodiment, however, theplayer is merely assured that his or her lottery number combination iscurrently associated with only a limited number of occurrences, withoutany assurances concerning future lottery ticket transactions. Forexample, a player may be informed that a lottery number combinationgenerated by a quick pick process is guaranteed to be unique at the timehe or she purchases the ticket but that the same lottery numbercombination may later be associated with another ticket or player. Notethat the lottery system may determine a number of occurrences that are“currently” associated with a lottery ticket number combination on aperiodic (e.g., nightly) or a non-periodic basis.

According to another embodiment, a player may be assured that a lotterynumber combination will be associated with no more than a current numberof occurrences that are already associated with that lottery numbercombination. For example, a player may be informed that although one ormore other players may have previously selected that lottery numbercombination, no more players will be allowed to do so in the future.According to other embodiments, a player may be assured that a lotterynumber combination will not be assigned to another player via a quickpick process, but that another player would be allowed to manuallyselect that lottery number combination (or vice versa). Note thatcombinations of these various approaches may be used.

The indication that the lottery number combination is to be associatedwith a limited number of occurrences may be provided with respect to asingle lottery drawing, a predetermined number of lottery drawings(e.g., a lottery ticket subscription), or any other number of lotterydrawings (e.g., a lifetime of lottery drawings or all future lotterydrawings).

Note that the received indication may, according to one embodiment,include the actual number of occurrences that may be associated with anumber combination. The indication also may comprise a predetermined“type” of lottery ticket and/or lottery ticket slip associated with thelottery ticket.

At 14, a price associated with the lottery ticket is determined based on(i.e., based at least in part on) the received indication. For example,a typical lottery ticket may have a price of $1.00. If, however, anindication is received that the player's lottery number combination willonly be associated with a single ticket the price may be increased to$1.50.

Instead of simply determining whether a first price or second priceshould be associated with the lottery ticket, the lottery system maycalculate an appropriate lottery ticket price. For example, the lotterysystem may calculate the lottery ticket price based on the limitednumber of occurrences and a predetermined formula (e.g., the lotteryticket price =a base price +[$1.00 divided by the limited number ofoccurrences]). The lottery system may also calculate the lottery ticketprice using, for example, a predetermined rule or a predetermined table.Table I is an example of a table that may be used to determine thelottery ticket price. TABLE I Lottery Ticket Prices Maximum Number ofOccurrences Lottery Ticket Price 1 $2.50 2 $1.75 3 $1.50 4 $1.25 5 $1.10more than 5 $1.00

According to one embodiment, the lottery ticket price may be based on anumber of occurrences currently associated with the lottery numbercombination. For example, a lottery number combination that is currentlyassociated with no more than one other lottery ticket may cost more thana lottery number combination that is currently associated with more thanone other lottery ticket.

Note that information other than the maximum number of occurrences maybe used to determine a price. For example, the price may be based on anexpected value associated with the lottery ticket (e.g., the expectedvalue of the lottery ticket to the player at the time he or shepurchases the lottery ticket) or an expected cost or value associatedwith the lottery ticket to a lottery provider. Similarly, demographicinformation or player history information may be used to determine theprice of the lottery ticket.

Note that the price may be independent of a cost of the lottery ticketto a lottery game provider. For example, consider a pari-mutuel lotterygame for which lottery tickets typically cost $1 00. In this case, alottery authority may divert $0.50 of each and every ticket to be usedfor a top jackpot pari-mutuel prize and smaller, non-pari-mutuel prizes(keeping the remaining $0.50 as profit). As more lottery tickets aresold, the size of the top jackpot increases—increasing the expectedvalue of the lottery tickets to players without changing the cost of thelottery tickets to the lottery authority. Moreover, if no player wins alottery drawing, at least some of the prize money may be carried overand applied to a second lottery drawing. In this case, lottery ticketssold for the second lottery drawing may be associated with a higherexpected value to players without changing the cost of the lotterytickets to the lottery authority. According to one embodiment, the Priceof such lottery tickets may be increased (e.g., players who purchaselottery tickets when the top jackpot prize is less than ten milliondollars are required to pay $1.00 and players who purchase lotterytickets when the top jackpot prize is at least ten million dollars arerequired to pay $1.50).

According to one embodiment, an indication of a number of occurrencescurrently associated with the lottery number combination may bedisplayed to the player. For example, the player may be informed thatthe lottery number combination he or she selected is currentlyassociated with one other player, and that he or she can select adifferent lottery number combination if desired. The player may also beinformed that he or she can pay a premium to make sure that noadditional players are associated with that lottery number combination(e.g., “blocking” other players from selecting that lottery numbercombination in the future).

In addition to determining a price, the lottery system may arrange for aplayer to purchase the lottery ticket. For example, the lottery systemmay receive from the player payment of an amount based on the determinedprice and provide the lottery ticket to the player (e.g., by printing alottery ticket for the player). The lottery system may also arrange forthe player to receive payment of a winning amount based upon a result ofa lottery drawing.

As described above, a player may indicate that his or her numbers are tobe associated with no more than a limited number of occurrences.Consider, for example, a first player who purchases a first lotteryticket and selects a first lottery number combination. The first playerindicates that the first lottery number combination should only beassociated with his or her ticket The player may pay an increasedlottery ticket price to make sure that he or she will not have to sharea prize if the first lottery number combination is selected as thewinning lottery number combination.

A second player then attempts to purchase a second lottery ticket havingthe same lottery number combination. In this case, the lottery systemprovides an indication that the second lottery ticket will not be soldto the second player. For example, the second player may receive amessage saying “Sorry, the lottery numbers you selected have alreadybeen reserved by another player.” In this case, the lottery system mayask the second player to select a new lottery number combination or maysuggest that the second player change one of his or her numbers (e.g.,“If you replace the third number you selected with ‘35’ then the lotterynumber combination would be available”).

Note that if the second player uses a quick pick process to generate hisor her lottery number combination, the lottery system may avoid thisproblem by selecting the second lottery number combination from a set ofappropriate lottery number combinations (e.g., from all of the lotterynumber combinations that have not been restricted by other players).According to one embodiment, the lottery system may randomly generateindividual numbers one at a time. If the entire number combination thatis generated is not appropriate, one or more of the individual numbersmay be re-generated.

According to another embodiment, the second player may select some, butnot all, of his or her lottery numbers. For example, the second playermay select the month and day of two birthdays (for a total of fourselected numbers) and ask that the lottery system select the remainingtwo numbers. The lottery system may then select the remaining twonumbers based on the available number combinations.

According to one embodiment, the price of the second lottery ticket maybe adjusted based on the indication received from the first player.Assume, for example, that the first player had indicated that no morethan two tickets are to be associated with the first lottery numbercombination. If the second player also attempts to select that lotterynumber combination, he or she may be informed that “the lottery numbercombination you selected will cost 15% more than the normal ticketprice, but we guarantee that only one other player will have the samelottery number combination.”

Instead of adjusting the price of a lottery ticket in exchange forlimiting the number of occurrences, the lottery system may insteadadjust a prize associated with the lottery ticket For example, a playermay agree to accept only 90% of any potential winnings in exchange for apromise that no other players will share his or her lottery numbercombination. According to another embodiment, a player may agree toforego one or more lesser prizes in exchange for such a promise (e.g., a$5.00 prize won when his or her lottery number combination includesthree of the six winning numbers). Similarly, a player may agree toaccept payment of any potential winnings in installments in exchange forsuch a promise.

Instead of preventing other lottery tickets from being associated with alottery number combination, the lottery system may instead assure theplayer that be or she will win a fill or total winning amount even ifthe lottery ticket and another lottery ticket both win a lotterydrawing. For example, a first player may purchase a lottery ticket for alottery game having a top prize of one million dollars and select afirst lottery number combination. The first player may also pay apremium to the lottery system in exchange for a promise that he or shewill receive an amount equal to the top prize regardless of whetheranother player has also purchased a lottery ticket associated with thesame lottery number combination.

The lottery system, however, does sell another lottery ticket associatedwith the same lottery number combination to a second player, who doesnot elect to pay the premium. In this case, if the lottery numbercombination is determined to be the winning lottery number combination,the first player will receive the full one million dollar prize. Thesecond player, however, will receive only half of that amount (e.g., theamount that he or she would have received if the one million dollarprize had been divided among the two winning players). In effect, thelottery system has “insured” the first player against the risk ofsharing the top prize. Note that lottery system may similarly guaranteethat the first player will win (e.g., will win at least) any otherpredetermined percentage or predetermined amount (e.g., at least 75% ofthe top prize).

Instead of determining a price (or a prize) based on a limited number ofoccurrences, the lottery system may determine a price (or a prize) basedon an expected value or cost associated with the lottery ticket.Consider, for example, a player who selects a lottery number combinationthat has been popular in the past. In this case, the expected value ofthe lottery ticket may be less than a ticket associated with unpopularlottery numbers (because the player is more likely to share his or herwinnings based on a likelihood of the lottery number combination beingselected). The lottery system may determine that either an increased ordecreased lottery ticket price is appropriate.

Other factors that may influence the expected value of a lottery ticketinclude, for example, a total number of lottery tickets that are sold(or a rate at which lottery tickets are being sold), a current number ofoccurrences associated with a lottery number combination, and a currentSing amount (e.g., a current top prize). For example, a player may pay areduced price in exchange for agreeing to accept a current winningamount as the top prize, even if the top prize is eventually increased(e.g., because a large number of lottery tickets are purchased by otherplayers).

According to another embodiment, lottery tickets are typicallyassociated with a limited number of occurrences. In this case, a playermay indicate that his or her lottery number combination can beassociated with an unlimited number of occurrences, and a reduced pricemay be determined for the player's lottery ticket. Instead of a reducedprice, another benefit may instead be provided to the player- Forexample, the player may receive an additional lottery ticket for free.

According to one embodiment, a reduced price (or an increased prize) maybe applicable when it is known that a certain number of lottery ticketsassociated with a particular number combination have been or will besold. Consider, for example, a lottery game for which lottery ticketstypically cost $1.00. In this case, the lottery system 200 may determinethat a predetermined subset of lottery number combinations will alwaysbe associated with two occurrences (e.g., the lottery system 200 may usea quick-pick process to make sure that each of these lottery numbercombinations are associated with two, and only two, lottery ticketoccurrences). In this case, the lottery system 200 may determine thatsuch tickets are associated with a price of $0.50. Such an approach may,for example, encourage play by people who are not willing to spend thefull $1.00 for a lottery ticket. According to one embodiment, such anapproach may be used to provide lottery tickets to players in exchangefor an amount of change they would have otherwise received in atransaction (e.g., a transaction in which a player purchases a gallon ofmilk at a grocery store). Some systems for providing lottery tickets inthis situation are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.091107,971 entitled “Method and Apparatus for Facilitating the Play ofFractional Lottery Tickets Utilizing Point-Of-Sale Terminals.”

According to one embodiment, a player indicates a minimum number ofoccurrences that are to be associated with his or her lottery numbercombination. For example, a player may provide a $10.00 payment inexchange for lottery tickets, each lottery ticket having a lotterynumber combination that will be associated with no less than ten otherlottery tickets. In is case; the lottery system 200 may determining thatthe player should receive one hundred such lottery tickets in exchangefor his or her $10.00 payment. Note that such an approach, in effect,“pools” players into groups so that they may receive an increased numberof lottery tickets (although any winnings associated with these lotterytickets will have to be shared with other players). Such an approachmay, for example, encourage play by people who feel that a singlelottery number combination will not provide them with a sufficientlikelihood of winning a top jackpot prize.

EXAMPLES

Alice visits a retail store and obtains a lottery ticket slip 900 asshown in FIG. 9. She selects the month and day of her birthday and herfavorite lucky number, for a total of three lottery numbers. She thenselects three additional numbers having no special significance, for atotal of six lottery numbers. She uses a pencil to mark the lotteryticket slip 900 with her six lottery numbers and further indicates onthe lottery ticket slip 900 (e.g., by placing a mark inside a “MAX TKTS”selection box 910 labeled “1”) that no other lottery ticket should beassociated with her six selected lottery numbers.

An employee at the retail store enters information from the lotteryticket slip 900 into a lottery terminal that reads the marks andtransmits the information to a central lottery authority. The centrallottery authority determines, however, that Alice's six lottery numberhave already been associated with two other lottery tickets. A messageis displayed to Alice stating that the lottery number combination sherequested is not available, but if she agrees to change her sixthlottery number from “36” to “37,” that lottery number combination wouldbe available. Because the sixth lottery number had no specialsignificance to Alice, she agrees to change the last number of thecombination.

Although normal lottery tickets cost $1.00, the lottery system hadpreviously determined that the price for lottery tickets associated witha single occurrence would always be $2.50. Alice pays $2.50 and receivesa lottery ticket indicating her set of six numbers.

Later that day, Bob accesses the central lottery authority via an onlineWeb site and attempts to purchase a lottery ticket corresponding toAlice's previously selected set of six numbers. The central lotteryauthority determines that no more lottery tickets can be associated withthat lottery number combination and refuses to sell the lottery ticketto Bob.

Bob decides to let the central lottery authority pick his lottery numbercombination.

Because he does not want to pay $2.50 for a single lottery ticket, Bobrequests that his six lottery numbers be unique at the time they areselected. Bob also requests that his lottery number combination not beprovided as a quick pick to any other player. Bob is told, however, thatit is possible he will have to share the top prize if another playermanually requests the same set of numbers at a later time. Bob providespayment of $1.25 for this type of lottery ticket.

In another example, Carol purchases a lottery ticket associated with alottery number combination. She pays an extra $1.00 to a lotteryauthority in exchange for an assurance that she will not be required toshare the top jackpot prize with anyone else if her lottery numbercombination is selected as a winning number combination. Later that day,the lottery authority sells another lottery ticket having the samelottery number combination to Dan, who decides to not pay the extra$1.00 for such an assurance. That night, the lottery authoritydetermines that the top jackpot prize is ten million dollars and selectsCarol's lottery number combination (which is also Dan's lottery numbercombination) as the winning number combination. Carol receives the fullten million dollar prize (e.g., the same amount she would have receivedif Dan did not buy a lottery ticket with the same lottery numbercombination), and Dan receives a five million dollar prize (e.g., theamount he would have received if the original ten million dollar prizewas shared with Carol).

In another example, Emily purchases a first lottery ticket. The topjackpot prize at the time she purchases the first lottery ticket is onemillion dollars, and a lottery authority charges Emily $1.00 for thefirst lottery ticket. A large number of other players also purchaselottery tickets, and the top jackpot prize increases to five milliondollars. Emily is excited about the large prize and decides to purchasea second lottery ticket. Because the top jackpot prize is now fivemillion dollars, the lottery authority charges her $1.50 for the secondlottery ticket.

In another example, Fred purchases a lottery ticket for a first lotterydrawing. The top jackpot prize at the time he purchases the lotteryticket is one million dollars, and a lottery authority charges him $1.00for the lottery ticket. That night, the lottery authority selects awinning number combination and determines that no player has won the topjackpot prize. The one million dollars is applied to the next lotterydrawing, resulting in a top jackpot prize of two million dollars. Freddecides to purchase another lottery ticket for is lottery drawing, andthe lottery authority charges him $1.25 based on the increase in the topjackpot prize

Lottery System

FIG. 2 is a block diagram overview of a lottery system 200 according toone embodiment of the present invention. As will be described, thelottery system 200 may be used to facilitate lottery tickettransactions. The lottery system 200 includes a controller 300 incommunication with a player device 20, a lottery device 30, and amerchant device 40. As used herein, devices (such as the controller 300,the player device 20, the lottery device 30 and/or the merchant device40) may communicate, for example, via a communication network, such as aLocal Area Network (LAN), a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), a Wide AreaNetwork (WAN), a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a proprietarynetwork, or an Internet Protocol (IP) network such as the Internet, anintranet or an extranet. Moreover, as used herein, communicationsinclude those enabled by wired or wireless technology. Note thatalthough a single controller 300 is shown in FIG. 2, any number ofcontrollers 300 may be included in the lottery system 200. Similarly,any number of the other devices described herein may be includedaccording to embodiments of the present invention.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a player device 20communicates with a remote, Web-based controller 300 (e.g., a server)via the Internet. Although some embodiments of the present invention arcdescribed with respect to information exchanged using a Web site,according to other embodiments information may instead be exchanged, forexample, via a telephone, an Interactive Voice Response Unit (IVRU),electronic mail, a WEBTV® interface, a cable network interface, and/or awireless communication system.

A player device 20 may be any device capable of performing the functionsdescribed herein. For example, a player device 20 may comprise aPersonal Computer (PC), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a one-way ortwo-way pager, a wired or wireless telephone, a Point Of Sale (POS)terminal, a kiosk (e.g., a kiosk located at a retail store), anAutomated Teller Machine (ATM) device, a smart card, or any otherappropriate storage and/or communication device. Similarly, the merchantdevice 40 and/or the lottery device 30 may be any device capable ofperforming the functions described herein, including any of the devicesdescribed with respect to the player device 20. For example, the lotterydevice 30 may be a central processing system associated with a lotteryauthority and a merchant device 40 may be a POS terminal capable of (i)reading a lottery ticket slip 900 completed by a player and/or (ii)communicating with the lottery device 30.

Note that devices shown in FIG. 2 need not be in constant communicationwith other devices. For example, a player's PDA may only communicatewith the controller 300 via the Internet when attached to a “docking”station or “cradle” coupled to the player's PC. A player device 20 mayalso communicate with the controller 300 via an Infra-Red (IR) port whennear a POS terminal or kiosk located in a merchant's store.

Any of the controller 300 the player device 20 the lottery device 30and/or the merchant device 40 may be incorporated in a single device(e.g., a kiosk located in a merchant's store may act as both a merchantdevice 40 and the player device 20).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the controller 300may also communicate with a payment service device (not shown in FIG.2), such as a credit card service device. For example, the controller300 may communicate with the payment service device to arrange for aplayer to provide payment in exchange for a lottery ticket. Similarly,the controller 300 may communicate with the payment service device toarrange to provide payment of a winning amount (e.g., a top lotteryprize) to a player.

According to another embodiment, the payment service device may alsocommunicate directly with a player device 20 and/or a merchant device40. For example, a merchant device 40 may communicate with the paymentservice device to arrange to provide payment to a player. The paymentservice device may then communicate with the player device 20 to providean indication of the payment. According to another embodiment, amerchant device 40 may instead communicate directly with a player device20.

Controller

FIG. 3 illustrates a controller 300 that is descriptive of the deviceshown in FIG. 2, according to an embodiment of the present invention.The controller 300 comprises a processor 310, such as one or more INTEL®Pentium® processors, coupled to a communication device 320 configured tocommunicate via a communication network (not shown in FIG. 3). Thecommunication device 320 may be used to communicate, for example, withone or more player devices 20 the lottery device 30 and/or the merchantdevice 40. Note that any of the player device 20 the lottery device 30and/or the merchant device 40 may contain similar elements and performsimilar functions as those described herein with respect to thecontroller 300.

The processor 310 is also in communication with a storage device 330.The storage device 330 may comprise any appropriate information storagedevice, including combinations of magnetic storage devices (e.g.,magnetic tape and hard disk drives), optical storage devices, and/orsemiconductor memory devices such as Random Access Memory (RAM) devicesand Read Only Memory (ROM) devices.

The storage device 330 stores a program 315 for controlling theprocessor 310. The processor 310 performs instructions of the program315, and thereby operates in accordance with the present invention. Forexample, the processor 310 may receive a request to purchase a lotteryticket, the lottery ticket being associated with a lottery numbercombination (e.g., a set of lottery numbers). The processor 310 may alsoreceive an indication that the lottery number combination is to beassociated with a limited number of occurrences, and determine a priceassociated with the lottery ticket based on the received indication.

According to another embodiment, the processor 310 may receive from aplayer a request to purchase a lottery ticket, the lottery ticket to beassociated with a lottery number combination. The processor 310 may alsoreceive from the player an indication that the lottery numbercombination is to be associated with a limited number of lotterytickets, and determine a price associated with the lottery ticket basedon the received indication. In addition, the processor may determine thelottery number combination and arrange for the player to purchase thelottery ticket. For example, the processor 310 may receive, from theplayer, payment of an amount based on the determined price and providethe lottery ticket to the player. The processor 310 may also prevent atleast one other lottery ticket from being associated with the lotterynumber combination. Note that the processor 310 may directly orindirectly prevent other tickets from being associated with the lotterynumber combination. For example, the processor 310 may simply store ortransmit an indication that prevents other tickets from being associatedwith the lottery number combination. Finally, the processor 310 mayarrange for the player to receive payment of a winning amount based onthe lottery number combination and a result of a lottery drawing.

According to another embodiment, the processor 310 may receive a requestto purchase a pari-mutuel lottery ticket. The processor 310 may alsodetermine a price associated with the pari-mutuel lottery ticket basedon an expected value of the lottery ticket to the player.

The program 315 may be stored in a compressed, uncompiled and/orencrypted format. The program 315 may furthermore include other programelements, such as an operating system, a database management system,and/or “device drivers” used by the processor 310 to interface withperipheral devices.

As used herein information may be “received” by or “transmitted” to, forexample: (i) the controller 300 from the player device 20 the lotterydevice 30 or the merchant device 40; and/or (ii) a software applicationor module within the controller 300 from another software application,module, or any other source.

As shown in FIG. 3, the storage device 330 also stores: a purchasednumber combinations database 400 (described in detail with respect toFIG. 4); and a potential number combinations database 500 (described indetail with respect to FIG. 5).

Examples of databases that may be used in connection with the lotterysystem 200 will now be described in detail with respect to FIGS. 4 and5. Each figure depicts a database in which the data is organizedaccording to a data structure in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention. The data may be stored, for example, on a computerreadable medium and be accessible by a program executed on a dataprocessing system. The schematic illustration and accompanyingdescription of these databases are exemplary, and any number of otherdatabase arrangements could be employed besides those suggested by thefigures.

Purchased Number Combinations Database

Referring to FIG. 4, a table represents the purchased numbercombinations database 400 tat may be stored at the controller 300according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to otherembodiments, the purchased number combinations database 400 may bestored at one or more of the player device 20 the lottery device 30and/or the merchant device 40. The table includes entries identifyinglottery number combinations that have been purchased by one or moreplayers. The table also defines fields 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412, 414for each of the entries. The fields specify: a number combination 402; aticket identifier 404; a retailer location 406; a date and time ofpurchase 408; a maximum number of tickets 410; a price 412; and awinning amount at time of purchase The information in the purchasednumber combinations database 400 may be created and updated, forexample, when a player purchases a number via the lottery system 200.

The number combination 402 represents a lottery number combinationassociated with a lottery ticket purchased by a player. For example, thenumber combination 402 may comprise six numbers, such as six numbersfrom the range of “1” through “49,” inclusive. Each number combination402 is associated with at least one ticket identifier 404. The ticketidentifier 404 may be, for example, an alphanumeric identifier generatedby the controller 300. Note that a single number combination 402 may beassociated with more than one ticket identifier 404. For example, asshown in FIG. 4, the number combination 402 of “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7” isassociated with both “T13235” and “T64312.”

The retailer location 406 may indicate the physical location of a retailstore where the player purchased a ticket associated with the numbercombination 402, The retailer location 406 may be used, for example, tolet the controller 300 track lottery tickets purchased in differentgeographic areas or lottery jurisdictions (e.g. so that a player canarrange to have his or her multi-state lottery number combination beunique in New Jersey). The date and time of purchase 409 indicates whenthe ticket associated with the number combination 402 was purchased.

The maximum number of tickets 410 represents how many lottery ticketsmay be associated with a particular number combination 402. For example,a particular number 20 combination may be associated with a maximum ofone lottery ticket (e.g., the maximum number of tickets 410 is “1”), twolottery tickets, or any number of lottery tickets (e.g., the maximumnumber of tickets 410 is “no maximum”). As shown in FIG. 4, the numbercombination 402 of “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7” is associated with a maximumnumber of tickets 408 of both “2” and “no maximum.” In this case, thecontroller 300 may prevent any further lottery tickets from beingassociated with that number combination 402 (e.g. because the maximumnumber of two have already been purchased). According to one embodiment,the maximum number of tickets 410 may be “0.” In this case, a player hasblocked other players from purchasing a ticket associated with aparticular number combination 402 without actually purchasing a lotteryticket associated with the number combination 402.

The price 412 indicates a price determined by the controller 300 for thenumber combination 402 based on the maximum number of tickets 410. Forexample, the controller 300 may determine that $1.00 is the price whenthe maximum number of tickets 410 is “no maximum” and use apredetermined formula to determine the price when the maximum number oftickets 410 is equal to a value other than “no maximum.”

The winning amount at time of purchase 414 indicates a winning amount orcurrent prize associated with the lottery game at the date and time ofpurchase 408. The winning amount at time of purchase 414 may be used,for example, to determine an expected value associated with the ticketidentifier 404 and/or an appropriate price 412.

According to one embodiment, the purchased number combinations database400 also stores a player identifier (not shown in FIG. 4) that mayindicate the player who purchased the lottery ticket. Such a playeridentifier may be used, for example, to make sure that numbercombination 402 is only associated with a maximum number of players.

Potential Number Combinations Database

Referring to FIG. 5, a table represents the potential numbercombinations database 500 that may be stored at the controller 300according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to otherembodiments, the potential number combinations database 500 may bestored at one or more of the player device 20 the lottery device 30and/or the merchant device 40.

The table includes entries identifying all possible lottery numbercombinations that may be purchased by one or more players. The tablealso defines fields 502, 504, 506, 508 for each of the entries. Thefields specify: a number combination identifier 502; a numbercombination 504; a number of tickets purchased 506; and a maximum numberof tickets 508. The information in the potential number combinationsdatabase 500 may be created by an operator of the controller 300 (e.g.,based on the rules of the lottery game) and updated, for example, when aplayer purchases a lottery ticket via the lottery system 200.

The number combination identifier 502 may be, for example, analphanumeric identifier associated with a lottery number combination andmay be generated by the controller 300. The number combination 504indicates a lottery number combination that may be associated with alottery ticket. The number combination 504 may be based on, orassociated with, the number combination 402 stored in the purchasednumber combinations database 400.

For each number combination identifier 502, the potential numbercombination database 500 also stores the number of tickets purchased 506with respect to the number combination 504. The maximum number oftickets 508 indicates how many lottery tickets may be associated with aparticular number combination 504 and may be based on, or associatedwith the maximum number of tickets 410 stored in the purchased numbercombinations database 400. That is, the maximum number of tickets 508may be set to the smallest maximum number of tickets 410 stored withrespect to that particular number combination 504.

Methods that may be used in connection with the lottery system 200according to an embodiment of the present invention will now bedescribed in detail with respect to FIGS. 6 through 8.

Lottery System Methods

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method for operating the lottery system 200,according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method may beperformed, for example, by one or more of the controller 300 the playerdevice 20 the lottery device 30 and/or the merchant device 40. The flowchart in FIG. 6, as well as the other flow charts discussed herein, doesnot imply a fixed order to the steps, and embodiments of the presentinvention can be practiced in any order that is practicable.

At 602, a request to purchase a par-mutuel lottery ticket is received,the lottery ticket to be associated with a lottery number combination.At 604, an indication that the lottery number combination is to beassociated with a limited number of lottery tickets is received from theplayer.

Based on the indication that the lottery number combination is to beassociated with the limited number of lottery tickets, a ticket price isdetermined at 606. For example, a first ticket price may be determinedif such an indication is received while a second ticket price isdetermined if no such indication is received.

At 608, the lottery number combination is determined. For example, aplayer may select the lottery number combination. According to anotherembodiment, the player instead allows the lottery system 200 to selecthis or her lottery number combination. In either case, the lotterysystem 200 may evaluate a potential lottery number combination todetermine if the combination is appropriate. For example, a player whoindicates that a lottery number combination should remain unique may notbe allowed to select a lottery number combination that is alreadyassociated with another lottery ticket (or another player). Methods ofperforming this process according to some embodiments of the presentinvention are provided with respect to FIGS. 7A and 7B.

At 610, it is arranged for the player to purchase the lottery ticket,and payment of an amount based on the determined price is received fromthe player at 610 (e.g., via a payment identifier associated with theplayer). At 612, the lottery ticket is provided to the player. Forexample, a lottery terminal at a retail store may print a lottery ticketfor the player.

At 614, the lottery system 200 prevents at least one other lotteryticket from being associated with the player's lottery numbercombination. A method of performing this process according to anembodiment of the present invention is provided with respect to FIG. 8.

Finally, at 616 it is arranged for the player to receive payment of awinning amount based on the player's lottery number combination and aresult of a lottery drawing. For example, if all of the lottery numbersin the player's lottery number combination match the result of thelottery drawing the player may receive payment of a winning amount. Notethat the player may not have to share this winning amount with more thanthe limited number of lottery tickets indicated at 604. Of course, ifthe player had previously arranged to purchase this particular lotteryticket on behalf of a group of friends or co-workers the winning amountmay need to be divided as appropriate.

FIG. 7A is a flow chart of a method for selecting a number combinationaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. The method may beperformed, for example, by the controller 300 to determine a lotterynumber combination as described with respect to 608 in FIG. 6. Inparticular, the method may be performed as part of a quick pick processfor a player who has requested that his or her lottery numbercombination be associated with a limited number of occurrences.

At 702, a set of appropriate lottery number combinations is selected. Toselect the set of appropriate lottery number combinations, thecontroller 300 may select every lottery number combination that (i) hasnot already been associated with the player's maximum number ofoccurrences, and (ii) has not already been associated with anotherplayer's maximum number of occurrences.

Consider, for example, a player who has requested that his or herlottery number combination be associated with only a single lotteryticket (i.e., only with his or her lottery ticket). To determine a quickpick lottery number combination for such a player, the controller 300may determine the set of appropriate lottery number combinationscomprising all combinations that are not yet associated with a lotteryticket. This may be performed, for example, by retrieving each numbercombination identifier 502 associated with a number of tickets purchased506 of “0” from the potential number combinations database 500.

If the player had instead requested that his or her lottery numbercombination be associated with no more than three lottery tickets, eachnumber combination identifier 502 associated with a number of ticketspurchased 506 of “0,”“1,” or “2” may be retrieved from the potentialnumber combinations database 500. However, in this case, a numbercombination for which two tickets have been purchased may not beconsidered appropriate if one of those two tickets had itself beenassociated with a request that the number combination be associated withno more than two lottery tickets. In another embodiment, the lotterysystem 200 may instead retrieve such information from the purchasednumber combinations database 400.

At 704, the player's lottery number combination is then selected fromthe set of appropriate lottery number combinations based on a randomoutcome. For example, one of the number combinations 502 identified at702 may be selected. Because all of the appropriate lottery numbercombinations were associated with an appropriate number of ticketspurchased 506, the controller 300 can be sure that the associated numbercombination 504 is available to be associated with the player's lotteryticket in accordance with his or her request. According to oneembodiment, the purchased number combinations database 400 and/or thepotential number combinations database 500 are updated at this point.

FIG. 7B is a flow chart of another method for selecting a numbercombination according to an embodiment of the present invention. Themethod may be performed, for example, by the controller 300 to determinea lottery number combination as described with respect to 608 in FIG. 6.In particular, the method may be performed as part of a quick pickprocess for a player who has requested that his or her lottery numbercombination be associated with a limited number of occurrences.

At 712, a potential lottery number combination is generated for theplayer based on a random outcome. According to this embodiment, thepotential lottery number combination is generated without regard to thelimited number of occurrences requested by the player.

At 714, the number of tickets that have been purchased associated withthe potential lottery number combination is determined. For example, thecontroller 300 may determine the number of entries associated with thepotential lottery number combination in the purchased numbercombinations database 400 or may retrieve the number of ticketspurchased 506 from the potential number combinations database 500.

At 716, it is determined if the potential lottery number combination isappropriate. For example, if the player had requested that his or herlottery number combination be associated with a single lottery ticket, apotential lottery number combination that has already been associatedwith another lottery ticket would not be appropriate.

If the potential lottery number combination is not appropriate at 716,another potential lottery number combination is determined at 712. Ifthe potential lottery number combination is appropriate at 716, thepotential lottery number combination is associated with the player'slottery ticket at 718. According to one embodiment, the purchased numbercombinations database 400 and/or the potential number combinationsdatabase 500 are updated at this point.

Note that if a player manually selects a lottery number combination thatis to be associated with a limited number of occurrences (as opposed tousing a quick pick process as described with respect to FIGS. 7A and7B), the controller may simply evaluate the manually selected lotterynumber combination to determine if it is available to be associated withthe player's lottery ticket in accordance with his or her request. Forexample, the controller 300 may determine the number of entriesassociated with that lottery number combination in the purchased numbercombinations database 400 or may retrieve the number of ticketspurchased 506 from the potential number combinations database 500.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a method for processing a request to purchasea subsequent lottery ticket according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. The method may be performed, for example, by the controller300 to prevent at least one other lottery ticket from being associatedwith a lottery number combination as described with respect to 614 ofFIG. 6.

At 802, a request to purchase a lottery ticket is received, including amanually selected lottery number combination. At 804, the controller 300accesses the purchased number combinations database 400 to determine anymaximum number of tickets 410 associated with the requested numbercombination 402. According to another embodiment, the controller 300 mayinstead access the potential number combinations database 500 todetermine any maximum number of tickets 508 associated with therequested number combination 504.

At 806, it is determined if the requested lottery number combinations isappropriate. That is, the controller may determine if the maximum numberof tickets 508 associated with the requested lottery number combinationhave already been purchased (e.g., based on the number of entriesassociated with the requested number combination 402 in the purchasednumber combinations database 400 or the number of tickets purchased 506in the potential number combinations database 500).

If the requested number combination is appropriate at 806, it isassociated with the player's lottery ticket at 808. If the requestednumber combination is not appropriate at 806, it is rejected at 810(e.g., the player may be asked to request another number combination ora modified number combination may be suggested to the player).

Additional Embodiments

The following are several examples which illustrate various embodimentsof the present invention. These examples do not constitute a definitionof all possible embodiments, and those skilled in the art willunderstand that the present invention is applicable to many otherembodiments. Further, although the following examples are brieflydescribed for clarity, those skilled in the art will understand how tomake any changes, if necessary, to the above-described system andmethods to accommodate these and other embodiments and applications.

According to one embodiment, a player provides something other to anincreased amount of payment in exchange for having his or her lotterynumber combination be associated with a limited number of occurrences.By way of example, a player may register to join a frequent lotteryplayer program; purchase a predetermined number of tickets in aparticular drawing; purchase a lottery ticket subscription (e.g., for apredetermined number of tickets or a lifetime subscription); purchase alottery ticket at a predetermined retail store or Web site; purchase asupplemental product (e.g., the player purchases at least five gallonsof gasoline along with his or her lottery ticket); purchase apredetermined amount of supplemental products (e.g., the playerpurchases ten dollars worth of items at a retail store); purchase alottery ticket when a winning amount is below a predetermined amount;and/or purchase a lottery ticket before a predetermined number oftickets have been sold for a particular lottery drawing, accept an offerfrom a third party (e.g., the player agrees to answer ten surveyquestions). Similarly, a player's lottery number combination may beassociated with a limited number of occurrences because of past actions(e.g., the player has purchased at least one lottery ticket in the lastfour weeks) or future actions (e.g., the player promises to perform anaction in the future).

A player's lottery number combination may also be associated with alimited number of occurrences when the player purchases a particulartype of lottery ticket, such as those described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/525,875 entitled “System and Method for ApplyingLottery Multipliers” and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/052,295entitled “Methods and Apparatus Wherein a Lottery Entry is Entered IntoLottery Drawings Until the Lottery Entry is Identified as a Winner.”

Although some embodiments described above provide that a player'slottery number combination will be associated with a limited number ofoccurrences (e.g., at the time the lottery ticket is sold or at the timea lottery result is determined), according to other embodiments it ismerely more likely that the player's lottery number combination will beassociated with a limited number of occurrences. Consider, for example,a lottery game in which a player selects six lottery numbers from therange of “1” though “49,” inclusive. A lottery ticket has a price of$1.00 unless the player selects “49” as one of his or her lotterynumbers, in which case the lottery ticket has a price of $2.00. Becausesome players will not want to pay $2.00, someone who does select “49” asone of his or her lottery numbers will have a reduced chance that awinning amount will need to be shared with other players.

According to another embodiment a player indicates the price he or sheis willing to pay for a lottery ticket, and a limited number ofoccurrences to be associated with the player's lottery numbers isdetermined based on that price. Similarly, the lottery system maydetermine a price associated with a lottery ticket (e.g., when a lotteryticket is to be provided to a player in lieu of an amount of change dueto the player as a result of another transaction), and a limited numberof occurrences to be associated with the player's lottery numbers isdetermined based on that price.

According to another embodiment, the price of another item may bedetermined based on a limited number of occurrences that are to beassociated with a lottery number combination. For example, the playerwho indicates that a first lottery ticket is to be associated with onlya single occurrence may pay a higher price for the next lottery tickethe or she purchases. Similarly, the price of another item may bedetermined based of an actual number of occurrences that were associatedwith a lottery number combination.

According to another embodiment, a price associated with a lotteryticket may be adjusted after the lottery ticket has been sold to aplayer. For example, a first player may pay $10.00 for a first lotteryticket having a unique lottery number combination. If second playersubsequently purchases a second lottery ticket having the same lotterynumber combination, the price associated with the first lottery ticketmay be adjusted (e.g., a $5.00 rebate may be mailed to the first playeror credited to an account associated with the first player).

According to another embodiment, a player may indicate that his or herlottery number combination is to not be associated with a set of players(or lottery tickets). For example, a player may indicate that thelottery number combination is not to be associated with lottery ticketssold in a particular city.

According to another embodiment, a player may prevent other players frombeing associated with a particular lottery number combination withoutactually purchasing a ticket. For example, a friend of a player may pay$100.00 to a lottery authority to have the player's favorite numbers“reserved” for ten years. In this case, the player would not receive aprize unless he or she also purchased a lottery ticket associated withthat lottery number combination for a particular lottery game drawing.

According to another embodiment, when a player is told that his or herrequested lottery number combination is not available (e.g., because asecond player has already purchased those numbers), the player mayperform an action in order to be associated with those numbers (e.g., byagreeing to provide payment of a predetermined or negotiated amount tothe second player).

According to another embodiment, the price of a lottery ticket isdetermined based on at least one parameter received from a player. Theparameter may indicate, for example, a desired uniqueness of a lotterynumber combination.

According to another embodiment, a player is assured that he or she willbe assigned a unique lottery number combination at the time of a lotterydrawing, but is not assured which lottery number combination he or shewill be assigned. For example, the lottery number combination may bedetermined by a lottery game provider after tickets are no longer soldto players (e.g., at 9:00 PM on the night of a lottery drawing).According to another embodiment, a player's lottery number combinationmay automatically change (e.g., a modified lottery number combinationmay be assigned to the player when a second player requests his or heroriginal lottery number combination). In either case, a player mayreceive an indication of his or her final lottery number combinationprior to a lottery drawing, such as via an electronic mail message.

According to another embodiment, a price or a prize may be determinedbased on a number of tickets that have already been purchased. Forexample, a first player to purchase a lottery ticket associated with alottery number combination may be eligible to win six million dollars,while a second player to purchase a lottery ticket associated with thatlottery number combination may only be eligible to win three milliondollars.

According to still another embodiment, a lottery number combination mayonly be associated with a limited number of occurrences when certainpredetermined conditions are met. For example, a player may indicatethat his or her lottery number combination should be associated with asingle lottery ticket if the top lottery prize is less than ten milliondollars. If the top lottery prize grows to be more than ten milliondollars, however, the lottery number combination may be associated withtwo lottery tickets.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a lotterygame for which a player does not need to purchase a lottery ticket. Forexample, a merchant may sponsor a sweepstakes and give away a lotterytickets to a customer each time he or she purchases an item at themerchant's store. In this case, a customer may provide a payment to themerchant to make, sure his or her lottery number combination isassociated with a limited number of occurrences.

In another embodiment, a price associated with the lottery ticket isdetermined based on a number of other players who actually request topurchase a ticket having the same lottery number combination and areprohibited from doing so.

Although some embodiments of the present invention are described withrespect to a player having to share a top prize, according to otherembodiments a lottery game may be associated with a number of differentprizes (e.g., for matching 4 out of six numbers). According to anembodiment of the present invention, a player may be assured that anysubset, or all, of such prizes will not need to be shared if he or shewins the prize.

In yet another embodiment, a player may be required to perform a task inexchange for an assurance that his or her lottery number combinationwill be associated with only a limited number of occurrences. Forexample, a player may be assured that his or her lottery numbercombination will be unique if he or she fills out a survey included onthe back of a lottery ticket slip.

In yet another embodiment, an auction may determine which player will beassociated with a lottery number combination (e.g., when two or moreplayers request the same lottery number combination).

In yet another embodiment, the lottery system 200 may automaticallydetermine a number of tickets based on a determined price. For example,a player may request to purchase $100.00 worth of lottery tickets, eachbeing uniquely associated with a different lottery number combination.In this case, the lottery system 200 may determine a price of $1.25 perlottery ticket, and automatically provide the player with eighty lotterytickets.

In yet another embodiment, the indication that a lottery numbercombination is to be associated with a limited number of occurrences isreceived from the lottery system 200. For example, all tickets in acertain type of lottery game may be given unique lottery numbercombinations. According to another embodiment, the limited number ofoccurrences may be based on, for example, a current total winning amountFor example, the limited number of occurrence may be “1” when thecurrent total winning amount is less than one million, “2” when thecurrent total winning amount is more than one million and less than twomillion, etc.

Although many embodiments described above are directed to pari-mutuellotteries, the present invention may also be used with respect to, forexample, pari-mutuel racetrack betting. For example, some types ofracetrack bets require that a player select, in order, the top threehorses that will win a race. According to an embodiment of the presentinvention, a player may also request that his or her selections beassociated with a limited number of occurrences (e.g., that his or herselections be unique). According to other embodiments, a player may beassured that his or her selections in a sporting wager (e.g., a collegebasketball playoff tree) will be associated with a limited number ofoccurrences.

According to another embodiment, a player is assured that a lotterynumber combination will be associated with a limited number ofoccurrences only with respect to one or more particular distributionchannels or services. For example, a player who purchases a lotteryticket via a communication network (e.g., a Web site or wireless phoneservice) may be assured that his or her lottery number combination willbe associated with a limited number of occurrences only with respect toother lottery tickets sold via that communication network. In this case,another player may, for example, visit a retailer to purchase anotherlottery ticket having the same lottery number combination.

According to another embodiment, a player is assured that a lotterynumber combination will be associated with a limited number ofoccurrences only with respect to a particular class of players (e.g.,frequent players or subscribers to a lottery service). For example, afrequent player may be assured that his or her lottery numbercombination will be associated with a limited number of occurrences onlywith respect to other lottery tickets sold to non-frequent players. Inthis case, another frequent player may be permitted to purchase anotherlottery ticket having the same lottery number combination.

The present invention has been described in terms of several embodimentssolely for the purpose of illustration. Persons skilled in the art willrecognize from this description that the invention is not limited to theembodiments described, but may be practiced with modifications andalterations limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

1-55. (canceled)
 56. A method, comprising: receiving, from a playerdevice, an indication of a request by a player to purchase a lotteryticket for a lottery drawing; receiving, from the player device, anindication of a lottery number combination to be associated with thelottery ticket; determining, based on a request associated with aprevious player, that the lottery number combination is unavailable; andproviding an indication of a suggestion for an alternate lottery numbercombination.
 57. The method of claim 56, further comprising: determiningthe alternate lottery number combination.
 58. The method of claim 56,wherein the determining of the alternate lottery number combinationcomprises: determining a set of available lottery number combinations,such that each lottery number combination of the set is associated witha number of occurrences that is less than a maximum number ofoccurrences indicated by the request associated with the previousplayer; and selecting the alternate lottery number combination from theset of available lottery number combinations.
 59. The method of claim57, wherein the determining of the alternate lottery number combinationcomprises: determining an alternate number for at least one number ofthe lottery number combination, to define the alternate lottery numbercombination; and determining that the alternate lottery numbercombination is available.
 60. The method of claim 56, wherein theproviding comprises: causing the player device to prompt the player toselect the alternate lottery number combination.
 61. The method of claim56, wherein the providing comprises: providing an indication that thelottery number combination is unavailable.
 62. The method of claim 56,wherein the indication of the suggestion comprises an indication of analternate number that the player may choose to replace a number from thelottery number combination, to define the alternate lottery numbercombination.
 63. The method of claim 62, wherein the indication of thesuggestion further comprises an indication that the alternate lotterynumber combination is available.
 64. The method of claim 56, furthercomprising: providing, to the player device, an indication of thealternate lottery number combination.
 65. The method of claim 56,further comprising: storing an indication of a price for the lotteryticket.
 66. The method of claim 56, further comprising: causing aprinting of the lottery ticket, the lottery ticket comprising an indiciaof the alternate lottery number combination.
 67. The wherein thedetermining that the lottery number combination is unavailablecomprises: determining a maximum number of occurrences associated withthe lottery number combination; determining a total number ofoccurrences, inclusive of the lottery ticket, that the lottery numbercombination is associated with; and determining that the total number ofoccurrences is greater than the maximum number of occurrences.
 68. Themethod of claim 67, wherein the maximum number of occurrences is definedby the request associated with the previous player.
 69. The method ofclaim 56, wherein the player is associated with a particular class ofplayer.
 70. The method of claim 69, wherein the particular class ofplayer is defined by the previous player.
 71. The method of claim 56,wherein the player device comprises a lottery terminal.
 72. The methodof claim 71, wherein the player device comprises a lottery terminal at aretail store.
 73. A lottery system apparatus, comprising: a processor;and a storage device in communication with said processor and storinginstructions adapted to be executed by said processor to: receive, froma player device, an indication of a request by a player to purchase alottery ticket for a lottery drawing; receive, from the player device,an indication of a lottery number combination to be associated with thelottery ticket; determine, based on a request associated with a previousplayer, that the lottery number combination is unavailable; and providean indication of a suggestion for an alternate lottery numbercombination.
 74. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed bya processor to: receive, from a player device, an indication of arequest by a player to purchase a lottery ticket for a lottery drawing;receive, from the player device, an indication of a lottery numbercombination to be associated with the lottery ticket; determine, basedon a request associated with a previous player, that the lottery numbercombination is unavailable; and provide an indication of a suggestionfor an alternate lottery number combination.
 75. A system comprising: auser interface; and a controller operatively coupled to the userinterface and adapted to: receive, from the user interface, anindication of a request by a player to purchase a lottery ticket for alottery drawing; receive, from the user interface, an indication of alottery number combination to be associated with the lottery ticket;determine, based on a request associated with a previous player, thatthe lottery number combination is unavailable; and provide an indicationof a suggestion for an alternate lottery number combination.
 76. Thesystem of claim 75, wherein the system is embodied in a mobile terminal.77. The system of claim 75, wherein the user interface is embodied in amobile terminal.
 78. The system of claim 77, wherein the mobile terminalcomprises one or more of a PDA, a pager, a telephone, and a smart card.